Beware of military pomp

Not just because costly ceremonies raise taxpayers’ eyebrows—they can also celebrate misplaced victory, as in the case of Canada’s Libya mission.

Deputy defence minister Jody Thomas, pictured in February 2017, refused to okay a $107,000 military change-of-command ceremony until it was cut to about $24,000. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

OTTAWA—A recent National Post exclusive story revealed how the military brass had been reined in by a cost-conscious senior bureaucrat. Internal Department of National Defence documents obtained by reporter David Pugliese show that the original budget for a change-of-command ceremony for the head of the Royal Canadian Air Force was pegged at $107,000.

Democracy, Terrorism and Killer Robots: Embassy News covers the 2015 Halifax International Security ForumThe Halifax International Security Forum is one of the world’s biggest gatherings of defence and security leaders.

Unless Trudeau plans to be out on these streets, fighting against police brutality or in cabinet drafting legislation to curb police powers, his, and all the other white voices of his ilk, have no merit here.

'I do agree that things need to be implemented as quickly as possible. We could've done this a lot sooner. The good news is that we’re doing it now and announcing it today,' says Transport Minister Marc Garneau.